"Ah yes, I see," he said. "Hurt and half-insensible, and nature
intervenes. Education says, Take him to the hospital; instinct bids
him, animal-like, creep to his hole to die."
"To die, sir?" I cried, catching his hand.
"Die? No: nonsense, boy. I was only speaking metaphorically. Don't
you see?"
"Yes, sir," I said.
"No, you don't, you young humbug," he retorted sharply. "You don't know
what a metaphor is."
"Yes, sir, it's a figure of speech in which one idea is used instead of
another."
"Hallo!" he said; "why, how do you get your living?"
"I'm a reading-boy at a printer's, sir."
"Oh! Are you? I should have thought you were reading-boy to a
professor of language. Well, we mustn't forget our patient. Give me a
glass, boy."
"Will a teacup do, sir?"
"Oh yes, and a teaspoon. That's right," he said; and, emptying a little
phial into the cup, he proceeded to give poor Revitts some of the
stimulus it contained.
"There," he said, "he's coming round, poor fellow; but I daresay he'll
be a bit shaky in the head. He mustn't get up; and you must give notice
at his station as soon as it's light, or to the first policeman you
see."
"But you don't think he'll die, sir?"
"Die, my man? No. A great stout fellow like that is not likely to die
from a crack or two on the head."
I drew a long breath of relief, and soon after the doctor left, bidding
me not be alarmed if I found his patient slightly delirious.
It was no pleasant task, sitting there alone, watching by my poor
friend, and many times over I felt so alarmed at his condition that I
rose to go and rouse up some of the people of the house; but whenever I
reached the door the doctor's reassuring words came back, and, feeling
that he must know what was right, I sat by the bedside, holding Revitts'
hand till towards morning, when he began to move uneasily and to mutter
and throw about his arms, ending by seeming to wake from a troubled
sleep.
"Where am I?" he said sharply.
"Here at home, in bed," I said.
"Who's that?"
"It is I, Bill, don't you know me?"
"Yes, yes, I know you!" he said. "Oh, my head, my head!"
"What was it? How was it done?" I said.
There was a pause, and then, in a weary way:
"I don't know--I can't recollect. Everything's going round. Yes, I
know: I heard a little girl call out for help, and I saw a fellow
dragging her towards an open door, and I went at him."
"Yes, Bill. Well?"
"That's all. I don't know anything else. Oh, my head, my head!"
"But did he hit you?" I asked.
"Yes, I think so, and I went down," he groaned; "and I don't know any--
any more, but I should know that fellow out of a thousand, and--"
He began muttering to himself, and as I bent over him I fancied I made
out the word "staff," but all else was unintelligible, and the poor
fellow sank into a heavy sleep which seemed likely to last.
Soon after seven I got the landlady to come and sit with him while I ran
to the police-station, and told the inspector on duty about Revitts'
state.
"There," he exclaimed to another officer, "I told you so. He's too
steady a fellow to have gone wrong. All right, my man, I'll send on the
surgeon, and we'll see what's to be done. You don't know how it was?"
I told him all I knew, and then ran on to Hallett's to ask him to get me
excused at the office.
I found him looking very pale, but Linny was not visible; and then I
told him about Revitts' state.
"It's very strange," he exclaimed. "Linny came home in trouble last
night. She said some man had insulted her, and when she called for help
a policeman ran up; and she left them struggling together while she made
her escape and came home."
"Then it must have been Revitts who helped her," I said; and I then told
him that I wanted to stay with the poor fellow.
"I'll arrange all that for you, Antony," he said quietly; and I made the
best of my way back to Caroline Street, to find that poor Revitts had
not moved, only kept on muttering where he had been laid by the doctor;
and I took the watcher's place, made tea for him, and spoke to him again
and again, but without result.
The police surgeon came soon after with the inspector I had seen, asked
me a few questions as he examined the injuries, and then I saw him
tighten his lips.
"Hadn't he better be taken to the infirmary, sir?" the inspector asked.
"No," was the reply; "he must not be moved." Then, turning to me: "You
had better get some one to come and nurse him, my lad," he said;
"mother, sister, or somebody. I'll call in again in the evening."
I knew from this that the poor fellow must be seriously hurt, and had I
wanted confirmation, I had it in the delirious mutterings that now came
from his lips.
I sat by him in great trouble, wondering what I should do, when the
doctor I had fetched called in, who, on learning that the divisional
surgeon had been, nodded his satisfaction and turned to go.
"Please tell me, sir," I said, "is he very, very bad?"
"Well, bad enough, my lad; you see, he has got concussion of the brain,
and I daresay he will be ill for some time, but I do not anticipate
anything serious. He must have a nurse."
As soon as he had gone I sat and thought for a few minutes what I ought
to do. Miss Carr was very kind and generous. If I asked her she would
pay for a nurse; but no, I would not ask her without first consulting
Hallett. He would help me in my difficulty, I felt sure, especially as
it was probable that Linny was the girl poor Revitts had protected. But
Hallett would not be back till evening, and then perhaps he would--no,
he would be sure to come in.
I sat thinking, and the landlady came up, full of bewailings about her
injured lodger, and in her homely way promised to come and wait on him
from time to time. Then a bright thought occurred to me. I would write
and tell Mary that Revitts was hurt, for I felt that she ought to know,
and hastily taking pen and paper, I wrote her word that my friend was
very ill, and asked her to tell me the address of some of his relations,
that I might send them word. I did not forget to add a postscript,
urging her to secrecy as to my whereabouts, for my dread of Mr
Blakeford was as great as ever.
Seizing my opportunity when Revitts was more quiet, I slipped out and
posted the letter, running back panting to find that a lady had come--so
the landlady said--during my absence, and, rushing upstairs I stood
staring with amazement on finding Linny in the room taking off her
jacket and hat.
"You here, Linny?" I exclaimed.
"Yes," she said quietly. "Why not?"
"Was it you, then, that poor Revitts helped last night?"
"Yes," she said, with a shiver, and she turned white. "Yes, poor
fellow. It was very brave of him, and I have come to help him in
return."
"But does--does Stephen know?"
"How can he," she said meekly, "when he is at the office?"
"But I am sure he would not approve of your coming," I said stoutly.
"I can't help that," she replied quietly. "He will think it his duty to
find fault, and I think it mine to come and help to nurse this poor
fellow who was hurt in serving me."
"But your mother--Mrs Hallett?"
"I have arranged for some one to go in and wait upon her till I go
back," said Linny quietly. "Now, what had I better do?" I could think
of nothing better than to suggest some beef-tea, and she snatched at the
notion, running out to fetch the material; and soon after having it
simmering by the fire, while she tidied the room in a way only possible
to a woman; and as she busied herself in a quiet, quick fashion, I could
not help noticing how pale and subdued she seemed. It was very evident
that her nerves had had a severe shock on the previous night, and as I
gazed at the pretty, soft little face and figure, bending themselves so
earnestly to the task in hand, I could hardly believe it was the same
giddy, coquettish girl who caused her brother so much concern.
The day wore slowly by, and in spite of my efforts and real anxiety, I
could not keep awake, but caught myself dozing off sometimes to start
up, feeling horribly guilty, and ready to excuse myself to Linny on the
plea that I had had hardly any sleep for two nights.
"The more need for me to come, Antony," she said quietly, and bidding me
lie down for an hour or two, she took out her work and, seated herself
by the sick man's pillow.
She woke me up at last to have a sort of tea-dinner with her, after I
had seen that Revitts remained perfectly insensible, and then the
evening wore on, the surgeon came and nodded his satisfaction at finding
a nurse there, said that the patient was going on all right, but must
have time, and took his leave.
At half-past eight, just as I had anticipated, Hallett arrived, and
started with surprise on seeing his sister.
"You here?" he said, with an angry look upon his brow.
"Yes, Stephen," she said quietly; "I have come to help nurse him."
"It was an ill-advised step," he said sternly. "You did not know that
this was the man who protected you."
"I felt so sure of it that I came to see," she replied. "Don't be angry
with me, Stephen," she whispered. "I owned to you last night that I was
in fault, and meant to do better."
"Yes, and refused to answer my questions," he replied. "You do not tell
me whom you went to see."
"Is it not enough that I have promised you I'll go no more?" she replied
with quivering lips.
"Yes, yes, my child," he said tenderly, as he took her in his arms and
laid his cheek against her forehead. "It is enough, and I will not
press you. Dear Linny, indeed I strive for your good."
"I know that, Stephen," she cried with a wild burst of tears, and,
flinging her arms round his neck, she kissed him again and again. "My
own brave, good brother," she said; "and I've been so ungrateful and
selfish! Oh, Stephen, I'm a beast--a wretch!" she sobbed.
"Hush, hush, little one," he said; and then, starting, he held her at
arm's length and gazed full in her eyes. "Why, Linny," he exclaimed, as
a light seemed to have flashed across his mind, "it was that man--you
went to meet--who insulted you."
She turned away her face, and hung her head, shivering as he spoke, and
weeping bitterly.
"It was," he cried; "you do not deny it. The villain!"
"Please, please don't, Stephen," she sobbed in a low, piteous voice.
"Linny!" he cried hoarsely; and his face looked terrible. "If I knew
who it was, I believe I should kill him?"
"Stephen," she wailed, "pray--pray! We are not alone."
"There is only Antony here," he said, "and he is like a brother." Then,
making an effort over himself, he strained the little panting figure to
his breast, and kissed her tenderly. "It is all past, my darling," he
said to her softly, and he smoothed her hair with his hand, as if she
had been his child. "I'll say no more, dear, for you have promised me."
"Yes; and I will keep my word, Stephen."
He kissed her again, and loosed her, to stand with brows knit with
trouble.
"I do not like your coming here, Linny," he cried at last.
"Why not, dear?" she said, laying her hands upon his shoulder. "It is
an earnest of my promise. He came to me when I was in trouble."
"Yes," he said; "you are right," and after looking at the patient he sat
down and talked to us in a low tone.
"Is it not nearly time for you to go back, Linny?" Hallett said at
last.
"Back!" she said; "I am going to sit up with Antony; the poor fellow
must not be left. The doctor said so."
Hallett took a turn up and down the room, and then stopped.
"You have had no sleep for two nights, Antony," he said. "Lie down. I
will sit up with my sister, and watch by poor Revitts' side."
I protested, but it was in vain; and at last I lay down in my clothes to
watch the faces of brother and sister by the shaded lamp, till my eyes
involuntarily closed, and I opened them again to see the two faces in
the same positions, but without the lamp, for there was the morning
light.